Keeping govt agencies on their toes
August 23rd, 2023 | 
Author: 
I read with solemn mood of the Straits Times Editorial, “Keeping govt agencies on their toes” (July 24).
Foremost, the chief function of Auditor-General’s Office is to execute the annual audit on the government ministries and departments, organs of state, statutory boards, government funds, and other public authorities and bodies administering public funds (upon their request for an audit).
The main objective of AGO is carrying its stringent and due audits to identify and determine whether any system weaknesses, non-compliance with control procedures or legislation. Also scrutinising any misappropriation and manipulation of public funds and resources.
Hence, their hard work and hawk-eyed observations should be highly recognised, respected and commended.
Clearly, The AGO’s annual report carries weight and will keep all the government establishments on their toes.
In this year’s report, the People’s Association, the Public Service Division, the Ministry of Communications and Information and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore were among the government agencies flagged for lapses and weaknesses.
The AGO also cited instances of awarding contracts to debarred contractors, co-mingling official funds with staff’s personal funds, giving excessive IT access rights, and over-disbursing support grants. It also highlighted possible irregularities in the records provided to the AGO by the State Courts and the Singapore Food Agency.
No matter what, it is a general perception and scenario that the procurement and contract tender and bidding aspects are seem the weakest crux of the problems.
Anyway, herewith are the areas that we need to focus and strengthen upon:
1) Which organisation, area of its frequency of recurrence in the system and procedure lapse as well as unsatisfactory in work process control?
2) Would the SOP of those being pinpointed organisations be subsequently enhanced to prevent or curb the human factor?
3) Would the affected organisation’s system, operational procedures and processes being strictly tightened?
4) Would the assessment, interviewing and selection processes of the named organisation’s Human Resources Department be further improved or enhanced to avert the appointment and deployment of the inappropriate personnel-in-charge?
5) Would the wrongdoing individual staff be legally dealt with? (Of which, it is solely depending upon the circumstances, nature and seriousness of the wrongdoing or offence.)
Teo Kueh Liang (Mr)
Posted in 
Sometimes you need a bit of flexibilty or the costs of delay will be even higher with too much SOP/Red tape…
Worse ,the end result may be quite bad…
Penny wise Pound foolish…
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This is just the red cherry on top of the money laundering cake.
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A far bigger problem lies outside of the gamen agencies.
The kind that has gotten S. Iswaran into serious trouble. Not even AGO could audit that.
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It’s in public records and news that PA was unable to account for money, not 1 year, but many years.
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Just another useless article pretending something should be done. These are not ‘lapses’, but areas of corruption no one dares to investigate. The trail will lead to the Regime and that cannot be allowed.
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The only question that needs to be asked is when the head/heads of the relevant agencies called out by the AGO are going to have their heads chopped.
It isn’t the first time that the AGO has pointed out overspending or weaknesses shown in the various government agencies. The head was changed to Heng’s wife or something just a few years back and people feared that this would make the AGO a more compliant organisation to PAP. Glad it didn’t happen.
And we have read of PAP’s super weak excuse previously for this is that the relevant government departments have had too much to do which resulted in lapses here and there. Clearly it seems that whoever is working in all the various departments cannot even be bothered about overspending nor how contracts are awarded. Why worry since no action will ever be taken against anyone? Might as well just sweep it under the carpet and carry on as usual.
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Governnment agencies good at collecting more money only.
Take easy way out.
Even the police,only good at bashing the weak but let the crooks go scot free and even help crooks to escape due punishment.
Many singaporeans who are victims already know about this.
Waste of taxpayers’ money.
Look everywhere is Singapore so dirty.
Sustainability?
LOL only.
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“Clearly, The AGO’s annual report carries weight and will keep all the government establishments on their toes.”
Clearly, you have stamps on your eyes.
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Raise the urinals
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Maybe in future ,give the President the Power to call the head of those Agency with problem to explain why .
If not happy with the explanation,can recommend the PM to replaced them.
Need external pressure from President to get thing done right…
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Nothing more than a distraction.
Just like back in 2015 when photos of rampant littering at the Laneway Festival (attended by many foreigners) made the local news headlines, about 2 to 3 days later that was followed up with articles on littering found in the heartlands.
Might as well sell your own mother for S$1.
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